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Righteous Anger

There has been quite the buzz lately about the Doritos “Crash the Super Bowl” ad contest. One entry that has been widely boycotted by Catholic groups nation wide depicts Doritos and Pepsi Max as suitable substitutes for bread and wine for communion. *Please note the usage of the little “c” on communion.”

Since the ad has already been pulled by Youtube and other sources, you can watch it here Doritos Ad

The primary question about this ad shouldn’t be “Should it make me mad?” but “Why does it make me mad?”

Anger and wrath are powerful emotions; in fact so powerful that they can be considered one of the seven deadly sins. Anger itself is a desire for revenge, CCC 2302 has this to say.

“[…] ‘To desire vengeance in order to do evil to someone who should be punished is illicit,’ but it is praiseworthy to impose restitution ‘to correct vices and maintain justice.'”

So how can something be both vengeful and good? Let’s take a look at an instance.

And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?” And the crowds replied, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.” Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those engaged in selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And he said to them, “It is written: ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of thieves.”

Matthew 21: 10-13

I think it’s safe to say Jesus got upset. Jesus being upset over this wasn’t just a meek little ‘Excuse me, could you stop selling that?” It was a bold, out going, massive upheaval that kicked all the money changers and those looking to make a profit on worship out of the temple. Many of these people who Jesus just laid a can of whoop on, just saw him ride triumphantly into Jerusalem for the Passover.

Let’s take a look at this in another light. Were the services that these people were providing necessary? Yes. Because it was the Passover, devout Jews from across the world were coming to Jerusalem in order to make sacrifices. They often would not travel with their lambs and doves because they wouldn’t survive the journey. Of course though, because they would be traveling they would need to exchange currency. Sooooo… having all these amenities near the Temple just kinda made sense. But why in the Temple?

The merchants could have easily set up shop outside of the Temple gates. Instead to maximize their exposure they were right inside and set up on sacred ground. That’s why Jesus was upset.

So why be mad at the Doritos ad? I admit there are parts of it that liken it more to a Protestant service over a Catholic Mass, ie: shots of Pepsi Max, and self receiving from the plate.

The reason I was hurt is that it could be seen that any part of our faith is disposable and can make a profit. Secondly if this was to be likened to Catholic Communion, there is no way in hell that a Catholic Church would use anything but unleavened bread, wine and water.

Jesus gave us a feast not snack food. In defense of our faith do we get righteously angry and defend our faith in truth and compassion or do we try to slam our faith into the faces of those that question us?